2 Player Starter Box

These decks are proof positive that a deck doesn't need 3x of most cards to run effectively. I played with these decks against the starter box quests and they performed exceptionally well. The greater variety created an additional tension in those games that I find missing in a lot of my current games. Maybe they won't fare well against Carn Dum, but these are great well-rounded decks. I am going to make a more concerted effort to back off the crutch of 3x deck building and aim for a more diverse deck.

By my count, from a "completionist standpoint", here's how this compares to getting a second core set.

One-ofs:

1. +1 extra Unexpected Courage, Celebrian's Stone, Horn of Gondor
2. Same number of Henemarth Riversong, Dwarven Tomb, Grim Resolve
3. -1 extra Beorn's Hospitality, Beorn, Fortune or Fate, Brok, Swift Strike, Dark Knowledge, Stand Together

Two-ofs:

1. Same number of Steward, Test of Will, Sneak Attack, Feint, Hasty Stroke, Hammersmith, Quick Strike, Blade of Gondolin, Secret Paths, Dwarven Axe, Ever Vigilant, Silverlode Archer
2. -1 extra Faramir
3. -2 extra (i.e. "not a complete set") Galadhrim's, Northern Tracker, Gleowine, Miner, Protector of Lorien, Forest Snare, Valiant Sacrifice, Citadel Plates, Will of the West, Self Preservation, Favor of the Lady, Wandering Took, Radagasts Cunning, Longbeard Orc-slayer, For Gondor, Horseback Archer, Strength of Will, Son of Arnor, Lorien's Wealth, Thicket of Spears, Light in the Dark, Power in the Earth, Common Cause, Rain of Arrows, Gandalf's Search

Notable bonus Three-ofs (from future packs):

1. +2 extra Defender of Rammas, Envoy of Pelargir, Ally Elrond, Galadhrim Minstrel, Sarn Ford Sentry, Elf-stone, Daeron's Runes, Lembas, Ally Galadriel, Ancient Mathom, Feigned Voices
2. +1 extra Ioreth, Legolas, Ally Mablung, Ally Arwen, Ally Bofur, Light of Valinor

Based on how frequently cards get used, this vs. a second core looks to me like a choice between an extra Unexpected Courage and all that bonus stuff at the bottom vs. the threat trackers and one copy of Beorn, Galadhrim's Greeting, Northern Tracker, Gleowine, and a few deck-specific cards (Forest Snare for traps, Citadel Plates / Self Preservation for Gloin, For Gondor for Gondor, Thicket of Spears for Hama, Power in the Earth for woodsmen).

Which heroes are missing? Can you edit your introduction to include that information?

ringsdb.com has the complete decks with the new heroes